Conveying apparatus.



PATENTBD 001.'.29, 1907. J. T. GOWLEY. CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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f Of J. T. GOWLEY.

PATENTBD 00T. 29. 1907.

GGNVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED 111111115. 1905.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

u f I PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

J. T. GOWLEY. CONVEYING APPARATUS.

d4.PPI.I0ATI0N FILED JUNE 15. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.JAM-ES T. .COW LEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'DO LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE-COMPANY, OF NEWARK,v NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

CONVEYING' APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Paulmann. an, iso?.

K Application filed June 15, 1905- Serisl No. 265,316.

To all whomz't'may concern:

Be ilt known that I, JAMES T. 'CowLEY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class oi endless cable conveyers in which a carrier traveling on tracks therein is utilized ior lifting or lowering boxes or cases. This device is so constructed, combined and operated as to enable the said carrier to automatically pick up a load from a central or exchange despatching station located on the ground floor and deliver the said load without injury or shock'thereto, to any one oi a series of department receiving stations or floors located on said system. It alsoenables the said carrier to automatically pick up l a load from any of a series oi department despatching stations or floors and deliver the said load to any of said series oi department receiving stations or to the central receiving station located on the ground ioor.

My invention also provides means whereby a carrier conveying a load will pass a load Waiting at any iioor or -despatching station, which load will be picked up by the -next empty carrier.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a iront the central receiving station. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a department despatching and receiving station. Fig. 5` is a side elevation of a department despatching station. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a department receiving station. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part of Fig. 6 showing the resetting mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlarged View oi part of Fig. 4 Fig. 9 is an .enlarged view of the side elevation of-department despatching station, Fig. 10 is an enlarged view ot carrier with load. Fig. 1l shows a section oi thevcable guide wheels and a portion of the carrier rounding a corner. and 13 show cable connections and method oi holding same. Fig. 14 shows amodiication of a department despatching station to make an intercommunicating system. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the setting mechanism at each department despatching station. Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view of the resetting mechanism at the department receiving stations for resetting the shelf. Fig. 18 is a plan view of the carrier.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views:A

The tracks or guide rails A A (Figs. 'l and 4) are held in position by the cross bracketsA2 and are fas- Figs. 12

tened thereto by the bolts Q. The grooved pulleys A3 A4 are journaled in the end-'supporting brackets A3 A respectively and carry the endless cable B centrally between the tracks or guide rails A A and at the turns the cable B is supported by the grooved idle puIleysA7 journaled in the brackets A3.. The said cable B .travels in the direction indicated by the arrows and is connected with and actuates the truck D to which is pivoted the carrier C by the rod D (Fig. 10). This allows the carrier'C to maintain an upright Vposition regardless of the position of the truck D. The grooved guiding and supporting '.wheels D2 are journaled in the truck D and coperate with the tracks or .guide rails A A holding said truck D thereto regardless oi the .plane of travel of said truck. The arm D3 of the truck D is connected with the cable B by the swivel hook B which is hooked to the eyes B2. The roll B3 Fig. 11, 12 and 13 mounted between the swivel hook B andthe arm D3 is .adapted to engage the rail A in rounding the corners, thereby holding the swivel connection from contact with the grooved cable supporting pulleys A7. The guide rails C6 (Fig. 18)are fixed to the brackets A2 at' all the stations and engage the rolls C" on the carrier C holding said carrier steady in a central position. Guide rails N3 are also located at stations and-adapted to steadyrthe carrier by engaging the roll N2.

The carrier C consists of the rack C which carries the interspersed fingers C2 land supports the load carried therein. The finger C3 xed to the rod C4 pivoted in bearings extending from the carrier C` `projects above the top of the fingers C2 except when the said carrier is loaded at which time the finger C3 is held flush 'was the rack C In this position of said finger C3 (Fig. 10) the cog C5 fixed to the rod C4 is thrown linto a vertical position and will not operate upon the lever E3 which is .pivoted to the framework at the department despatching stations.

The rod G is longitudinally movable in the bosses G6 Grunder the carrier C and is notched at one end. The pawl G3 is ,pivoted to the carrier C and is heldin said notches by the spring G4. The pin G2 is mounted in the collar G5 lixed to the rod G and the spring G is mounted between the collar G5 and the boss G7.

The department despatching stations located on each Hoor consist each of the platform F (Fig. 9) carrying the rack F mounted -on the rolls F2. The counterweight F3 mounted in the cylinder F4 is connected with the projection F5 fixed to the rack F bythe cord F6 carried over the pulley F7. The hand lever E is pivoted to the fioor plate E and is acted upon by the spring E2. Near the top of said hand lever E is`the spring-actuated pawl E3 adapted to engage the finger E4 fixed to the rack F. The pawl E5 pivoted to the hand lever E is notch thereon representing by number a department 'i receivngstation. The pawl H3 is pivoted to the frame H and held in engagement with the notches by means of the spring H4l connecting the said pawl H3 with the finger H5 ofk the notched cam H. The projection` H6 Qn the end ot pawl H3 is adapted to be engaged by roll N2 releasing the cam H. The pin G2is adapted to cooperate with the canrH when the rack F is in the forward position. Each department receiving station (Fig. 6) consists of the platform. K and inclined shelf K mounted thereon and 'adapted to receive the load discharged from the rack K? fixed to the lever K3, which lever is` pivoted to extensions on the platform K. Thev free grid of said lever K3 is'pivoted to the rod K4. The l-wer end of the rod K4 is fixed to the swivel K5 which is pivoted on the bolt K5. The lower end of the `rod K7 is bolted to the swivel K5 which swivel is also pivoted on the bolt K4. The upper end of the rod K7 is movable in the support K9 fixed to the wall and engages the latch L which is fixed to the rod L pivoted in the framework. The spring L2 mounted between the support Kg andthe collar L3 fixed to the rod K" holds the end of said rod against the latch L. The nger L4 is fixed to the rod L and at each station occupies a different position thereon.

The bolt K5 forms the Vpivot R of the-combination of resetting levers R S T U V'W (Fig. 17). The lever R S T is positionally pivoted on the framework at s. The lever T U W is connected thereto and works on the two movable pivots T and U and'the lever V is connected thereto by the movable pivot U and posiltionally fixed at the other end to the framework by the pivot V. D2 is the grooved guide-Wheel of the truck D which engages the lever W. 4The dotted lines show the position of the wheel D2 at the rest or normalv position of the levers T S T U V and W.

The systemiconsists of a main or central dcspatching station (Fig. 2) and a main or central receiving station (Fig. 3) both located on the ground flodr.- 0n each of the 'other ioors are located a department despatching (Fig.A 9) and av department receiving station (Fig. 6). All packages or .boxes sent from any of the despatching 'stationsand not discharged at any o f the department receiving stations must discharge at'tlie main or ccntral receiving station in ordento have the'carrier empty y'a notch inl said 'cam M representingthe department ling station and picks up the box N. The said box N its-travel passes the setting cam M; the pin`G2 riding upon the edge of said cam forces the rod G over until thewpawl G3 (Fig. 9) engages a notch corresponding to -thenotch on the setting cam M. The roll N2 on the end of rod C4.now engages the pawl M releasing the setting cam M which isV thrown into normal position by the spring Mil-rand is ready for another consign-g ment. The carrier is now set for the station designated, and on arriving above that station, the upin G2 engages the finger L", which finger L4 is fixed at that station to engage with the corresponding set position of the pin G2 and trips the latch L (Fig. 6) releasing the rod K'I which throws up the rod K* throwing the rack K2 into the position shown by the dotted lines in said Fig. v6. The carrier C now engages the rack K2leaving the load thereon; When 'the roll D2 of the said carrier reaches the lever W, it engages the said lever carryingit down and throwingthe lever S down with the rods K4 and K7 into the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 17. The movement of the lever W being of greater velocity than the movement of the lever S the rod K4 slowly lifts the rack K2 into a vertical position allowing the box N to gradually slide onto. the shelf K The latch L now holds the rod KQ-down and the mechanism is re-set awaitinganother consign' ment to that station. l I

If the operator at one of the department despatching stations desires to send a load to the central receiv-V ing station, he places the box N on the rack F (Fig.

9) and pulls the hand lever E back from its normal position shown in dotted lines until the latch E3 locks over the pin E4 on the-rack F and the pawl E5 engages a notch in the platform F. The cog C5 of the first empty carrier coming engages the lever E8 releasing the pawl E5 by means ofthe wire E9. The spring E2 now acts upon the -hand lever E forcing the rack F forward into the position shown by the dotted lines (Fig. 15). Any jar orsudden forward movement of the rack is checked by the counterweight F3 which also acts as an air cushion. In this position, the carrier C in passing engages the rack F lifting the load Atherefrom..v The pin P on the carrier C thenengages the end ofthe `latch,.E3-releasing the rack F. which is pulled intonormal position by the counterweight F3. As the pin G2 has not been set by any cam and is in its normal position, the carrier C passes all department reeivingstations and engages therrackK at the central reif'eiving station'j' .depositing the box'N. thereon.

lf an intercommunicating.system is desired and a load required to be senty from any one of the depart-A ment .despatching stations to any one of the department receivingstations, the operator at the depart'- ment despatching station places the box N on the rack F (seevmodification Fig. l5) and the hand lever E is pulled back as heretofore described until the latch E3 locks over the pin E4 and the pawl E5 engages a notch in the platform F. The setting cam H then pulled y out until the latch H3 engages a notch representing the f receiving station Ato which the 'box N is consigned. desired department receiving station. The next The carrier C travelinginthe direction indicated by i empty carrier trips the lever E5 throwing the rack F the-arrow engages the rack F at the centraldespatchforwardas heretoforeA described, the box is picked ceases up, the pin Gr?- set to engage the finger 114 at the designated station by riding on -the said setting cam. Hf, the setting cam M returned to normal position by the I roll' N24 engaging the projection HG releasingthellatch I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Paten);

oi the United States is:

1.A In a conveying apparatus, u framework. tracks mounted on sid. framework, a 'carrieryndapted to travel on said tracks, means on said carrier for maintaining its loadsupporting portion in an upright position, n cable i vmounted on said framework and v`adapted. to actote said i201- ccperating with. mechanism upon said carrier. despatching stations located along the upward path of tra-vel of said carrier, receiving stations located along the downward path of travel of said carrier, adjustable memos on said carrier and, at suid despatching stations for automatically picking up a load from any one of said dsspa'tching stations,v and adjustablemeans vo said. carrier and at said receiving stations Afor nutomat illy discharging' receiving station.v

2. Ln. a conveying apparatus, a 4framework. tracks moan-tedonsitid framework, a carrier adapted to travel on smid tracks. meuns on said carrier for maintaining its load-supporting portion. in an upright position, :1 cable mounted on. said framework and adapted to actuate said smid load into. n predetermined carrier. a central despatching station located. on the up- .cn said tracks, means on said carrier for maintaining its load-supporting portion, in an upright position, a cable mounted on said framework and adapted to actuate Suid carrier, department despatching stations located along the upward. path of travel of said carrier, a central re' ceiving station located on the downward path of travel of said carrier, adjustable means on said currer for cooperating with and picking up a load from any one of said depurtment-despatchiug stations. and means 0n said carrier for coperating with mechanism upon said central receiving station for discharging said load thereon.

4. In u conveying apparatus. n framework, tracks mountedon said framework. carriers adapted to travel on said tracks. .mens on said `carriers for maintaining its load-supporting portionl in an upright position, u cable mounted on said framework and adapted to actuute said carriers, despntching stations located along the upward puth of travel of Said carriers, receiving stn'tions located along the downward puthof travel of said carriers, means at any one of said despatching stations for holding o loud and for engaging and moving said load-holding means' into cooperation with the first empty carrier. means on said' carrier for picking up said load. and means on said carrier-*for cooperating with mechanism upon said re ceiving stations for discharging suid loud upon :i pref determined receiving station.

5, In a conveying apparatus. a framework, tracks mounted on seid framework, carriers adapted to travel on said tracks, means/on said carriers for maintaining its load-supporting portion in an upright position, n cable mounted on said framework and adapted to octuate said carriers, despatchiug stations located alongthe upward puth of travel ol' said carriers, receiving stations located `along the downward path of travel of said carriers,

means at any one of smid despzrtelil-ng stations for holding a load and for engaging and moving :sa-id loadholding meons.- into coperation withfthe first empty carrier, means on said carrier for picking up said load, means for resetting said despu-telling station Ato normal position after said carrier hos picked up the load, and means ou said carrier or coperatiug with mecinrnism upon smid receiving stations for discharging said load upon a predetermined receivm: station.

(i. in a' conveying apparatus.^ a framework, tracks mounted on said framework, carriers adopt-ed to travel onv said tracks, means on szlid carriers for maintaining the loadsupporting portion inan upright position, a cable mounted on said tramework and udaptedto actuete -sa-id carriers, despatching stations-located along the upward path of travel of .said carriers, receix'ingstations located along the' downward pa of travel of said carriers, means at any lone of 'seid despatching stations for holding a load: and for engaging and moving the loadholding means at solid despntching station into coperation with the rst empty curl-ier, means on said carrier for picking up saidload, adjuetabll means located on said carrier, selective lmeans located alt said: despatching station for predetcrmining the receiving station which receives -said load, said 'selective means engaging vand setting said adjustable means, mea-ns Iforresetting the apparatus at said despatching station to normal position after said carrier has picked up the load, und mea-ns located at said predetermined receiving station vtor receiving said load and for engaging said adjustable means for moving said load-receiving means into coperation with said carrier.

7. Im a conveying apparatus, a framework, tracks mounted onfsaid framework, carriers adapted to tralvel on said tracks, means on seid carriers for maintaining the load-supporting portion in an upright position, a cable mounted on said framework and adapted to actuate said carriers, despatching stations located along the .upward path of travel of said carriers. receiving stations located along the downward path' of travel of said carriers, means at any one of said-despatching stations for holding a load and for engagingand moving the load-holding means at said despatching station into coperation with the first empty carrier, means located on said carrier tot picking up said load, adjustable means located on Said carrier, selective means located at said despatching station for lpredetermining the receiving station .which receives said `load, said selective means engaging and setting said adjustable means. means for resetting the apparatusat said ydespatchln; station to normal position after said carrier has picked up the load, means located on said carrier and operated upon by said load to enable said. carrier to pass all other despatching stations without engaging same until said load has been discharged., and means located at said predetermined receiving stationfor neceivingsaid load and for engaging said adjustable means for' moving said load-receiving means into coperation with said carrier.

8. In .a conveying apparatus, a framework, tracks.

'mounted on said framework. carriers adapted to .travel on said tracks, means on said carriers for maintaining the loadzsupporting portion -in an upright position, `a 'cable mounted on said framework 4and adapted to artnet@ said carriers, despatcln'ng stations located along lthe upward path of travel of said carriers, receiving' stations located along the downward. path of travel of said carriers. means at any one of said, despatchlng stations for holding a load and :for engaging and moving the `loadholding means-at said. despatching station into cooperation with the first empty carrier. means'on said carrier for picking up said load, adjustable means located on said carrier,.selective means located on said despathing station for pre-determining the receiving station which re-` ceives said load, said. selective-means engaging and setting said adjustable means, means foi-'resetting the apparatus at said despatchng station to normal position after said carrier has picked up the load, means located on said carrier and operated upon by said load to enable said carrier to pass all other despatching stations without engaging same until said lad has been discharged, means located at said oredetermined kreceiving station for receiving said load and for engaging said adjustable means for moving said load-receiving rnea'nsl into cooperation with said carrier, and mans for resetting said receiving "station to normal position after receiving saidload.

9. In a conveying apparatus, a framework, tracks mounted on said framework, carriers adapted to travel on said tracks, means for maintaining'the load-supporting portion of said carriers inan upright position, a cable mounted on said framework and adapted to actuate said carriers, despatching stations located along the upward path of travel of said carriers, receiving stations located along the -downward path of travel of said carriers, means at any one of said despatching stations for holding a load and for engaging and movingvthe load-holding means at said despatching station into cooperation with the iirst empty carrier, means on said carrier for picking up said load, adjustable means located onsaid carrier, selectivel means located at said despatching station for predetermining the receiving station which receives said load, said selective means engaging and setting said adjustable means, means for resetting the apparatus at said despatching station to normal position after said carrier has picked up said load, lneans located on said carrier and operated upon by said load to enable said carrier to pass all other despatching stations. without engaging vsame until said load has been-discharged, means located on said predetermined receiving station for receiving said load and for engaging said a djustable means for moving said loadreceiving means into coperation with vsaid carrier, and pivoted means for resetting the apparatus at said receiving station to normal position after receiving said load.

10. ln a conveying apparatus, a framework, tracks mounted on said framework, carriers adapted to travel on said tracks, means for maintaining the load-supporting portion of said carriers in an upright position, a cable mounted on said framework and adapted to actuate said carriers, despatching stations located along the upward path of travel of said carriers, receiving stations located along the downward path of travel of said carriers, means at anyone of said despatching stations for holding a load and for engaging and moving the load-holding means at said despatching station into coperaton with the first empty carrier, means on said carrier for picking up said load, adjustable means located on said carrier, selective means located at said despatching station for predetermining the receiving station which receives said load, said selective means engaging and setting said adjustable means, means for resetting the apparatus at said despatching station to normal position after said carrier has picked up the load, means for resetting said selective means, means located on said carrier and operated upon by' said load to enable said carrier to pass all'other despatehing stations without engaging same until said load has been` discharged, means located at said predetermined receiving station for receiving said load and forengaging said adinstable means for moving said load-receiving means into coperatlon with said carrier, and pivoted means for resetting the apparatus atsaid receiving station to normal position after receiving said load.

11.1n a conveying apparatus, a framework, tracks mounted on said framework, carriers adapted to travel on s nld tracks, means for maintaining the load-supporting portion of said carriers in an upright position, a cable mounted'on said framework and adapted to actuate said carriers,` despatching stations located along the upward path of travel of said carriers, receiving stations located alongk the downward path of travel of said carriers, means at any one of said despatching stations for holdinga load and for engaging and moving the load-holding means at said despatching station into coperation with the first empty carrier, means on said carrier for picking up said load, adjustable means located on said carrier, selective means located on said despatching station' for determining the receiving station which receives said load, said selective means eng( Ging and setting Vsaid adjustable means,

`mea/ns for resetting the apparatus at said despatching station to normal position after said carrier has picked up the load, means located on said carrier and operated upon by said load to enable said carrier to pass all other despatching stations ljvvithout engaging same until said load has been discharged, means located at said predetermined receiving stationfor receiving` said load and for engaging said adjustable means for moving saidv load-receiving means into cooperation with said carrier,' and pivoted means operated upon byf said carrier for resetting the apparatus at said receiving station and transferring said load therefrom.

12. In la conveying apparatus,` a framework, tracks mounted on said framework, carriers adapted to travel on said tracks, means for maintaining the load-supporting portion of said carriers in an upright position, a cable mounted on said framework and adapted to actuate said' carriers, despatching stations located along the upward path of travel of said carriers, receiving stations located along the downward path of travel of said carriers, means' at any one of said despatching stationsfor holding a load and' for engaging and moving the load-holding means at .said despatching station into coperation wth the first upon by said load to enable said carrier to pass all other despatching stations without engaging same until said load has been discharged, means located at said predetermined receiving station for receiving said load and for engaging said adjustable means for moving. said loadreceiving means into coperation with said carrier, and pivoted reducing means operated upon by said carrier for resetting the apparatus at said `receiving station and for transferring said load therefrom at a relativelylower speed than the speed of travel of said carrier.

13. In a conveying apparatus, a track or way, a carrier adapted to travel on said way, despatching stations located along `the path of travel of said carrier, `receiving stations located along the path of travel of said carrier, adjustable means on said carrier and at said despatching stations for picking up a load from any onel vof said despatching stations, and means on said carrier and at said receiving stations for discharging said load into any one of said receiving stations. I

14. In a conveying apparatus, a track or way, a carrier adapted to travel on said way, despatching stations located along the path of 'travel of said carrier,. receiving stations 'located along the path of travel of said carrier, adjustable means on lsaid carrier and at said despatching stations for automatically picking up a load .from any one of said despatching stations, and adjustable means on said carrier and at said receiving stations for automatically discharging said load into anyone of said receiving stations.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

Witnesses:

WM. WIL'cox, WILLARD A.` MARCY. 

